Prevention effects of Schisandra polysaccharide on radiation-induced immune system dysfunction

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2015-05, Vol.76, p.63-69
• Main Authors: Zhao, Lian-Mei, Jia, Yun-Long, Ma, Ming, Duan, Yu-Qing, Liu, Li-Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - genetics; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Complement C3; fas Receptor - genetics; fas Receptor - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Immune System - drug effects; Immune System - radiation effects; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunomodulator; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - immunology; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes - radiation effects; Male; Mice; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Radiation; Radiation therapy; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Schisandra - chemistry; Schisandra polysaccharide; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - radiation effects; Thymocytes - drug effects; Thymocytes - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.02.020

In this study, we investigate the efficacy of SP (Schisandra polysaccharide) in prevention of radiation-induced immune dysfunction and discussed the underlying mechanisms with a Bal/bc mouse model. The data demonstrated that SP could reverse the decreases in the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in peripheral blood. In addition, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement C3 in blood serum were all decreased after radiation and SP could restore this radiation disorder. Furthermore, SP could reverse the deregulation of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cell subsets in peripheral blood and thymus of mice after radiotherapy. We also performed terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) to investigate the apoptosis and underlying mechanisms of SP in thymus. Data showed that radiation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes could be reversed by SP through inducing upregulation of Bcl-2 expression and downregulation of Fas and Bax levels. Furthermore, SP has no any side-effects on immunity of normal mice. In conclusion, our results indicated that SP could effectively prevent immune injury during radiotherapy by protecting the immune system. This valuable information should be of assistance in choosing a rational design for therapeutic interventions of prevention immune system damage in the radiation treatment.